Air-control device for liquid-gages.



O. C. RITZ-WOLLER.

AIR CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID GAGES.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT. 8, 1911K Patented, Fab. 3.8, i914.

ill! OLIVER C. RITZWOLLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR-CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID-GAGES.

i ,osaacr Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 8, 1913. Serial No. 788,704.

To all whom it may concern lie it known that T, ()mvnn G. Ritz-Nor.- LER, citizen of the l uited States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful I-mprovements'in Air-tontrol Devices for Liquid-Gages, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the aceompanyin g drawin This invention relates to in'iproved means for automatically controlling communication between a liquid gage tube and the source of liquid supply and is particularly designed for use in connection with gasolene gages such as are employed upon automobiles, power boats and like vehicles, although not limited to such specific uses.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an improved gravity brake device for pressure or gravity feed gages which will automalitailly produce an air lock in the connecting pipe between the gage tube and the supply tank when the vehicle as cends or descends an incline, thus preventing any fluctuation in the level of the fluid l-IttllO float tube.

Another and more specific object-of the invention resides in the provision of an llIlproved gravity controlled brake arranged in the air line pipe between the float tube and the fuel supply tank which will allow of a free passage of the air between the tube and tank when the machine is moving over a level grade but will immediately and automatically cut off communication when the machine ascends or descends an incline,'and an additional locking means arranged in the air line pipe whereby the feed of the liquid fuel from the supply tank to the float tube may be cut elf and controlled by the operator without necessitating the opening of the tank, said locking device being. further designed to permit of the ready escape of the air from the tank and tubing when it is desired to refill thetank.

My invention has for another'of its ob jects to produce a device for the above purpose which is extremely simple in, its con-' structibn, highly 'eflicient and reliable in practical use and may be manufactured and installed upon pleasure or commercial motorvehicles at a nominal cost.

'With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain construction, combinations and arrangetube 5 and the tank 7.

.i v ments of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in whieh" Figure l is a side elevation illustrating theassembly of the several parts of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the g avity air brake; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the key actuated locking device; Fig. t is a similar sectional view of a modified formof said lock ing device particularly designed for use in connection with a gravity feed tank. Fig. 5 is a detail section illustrating a slightly modified form of the gravity brake.

In the accompanying drawing, l have illustrated a. float tube 5 which may be provided or connected with a gage of-any preferred type. The float (5 is freely movable in said tube as the quantity of liquid therein varies. The fuel supply tank or reservoir '7 is connected to the lower end of the float tube by the pipe 8, and within the lower end of the float tube and connected to this pipe is a coiled nipple 9. This. nipple 9 of fectually prevents the exit of the liquid fuel from the float tube by vibration when the automobile or other machine is traveling over rough reads. A length of tubing indicated at 10 connects the top of the fuel 'tank or reservoir 7 with the upper end of, the float tube 5. This air tube intermediate of its ends and preferably adjacent the float tube 5 is provided with a transparent tube section 11 of glass or other material. The spaced ends of the tubing 10 are provided with sleeves of chamois or other new terial shown at 12. which are penetrable by gasoleneor other liquid fuel. These sleeves are inserted into the opposite ends ofthe transparent tube 11. \Vithin this tube a quantity of quick-silver indicated at 13 is disposed. This body-0f quick-silver will Patented Feb. t i 1914.

maintain a central position within the tube j 11 when the body of the machine is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane in parallel relation to the road surface. \Vhen, however, the machine'ascends or .descends a grade, the quick-silver 13 will move to one or the other end of the glass tube as the case may be, andagainst one of the sleeves 12, thereby effectually cutting oil the flow of air between the upper ends of the float Thus a vacuum or tube 5.is temporarily suspemled. The level I of the fuel in the tube and tank is idcntr l l l cally the same and will he maintained at this 5 nine level until the machine again moves over a level grade surface. The vacuum air lock is then removed and the quick-silver 1% assumes its central position in the glass tube or cylinder 11. t I

lnraddition to the gravity brake for automatically cutting oil the llcw of the fuel under the conditions stated, l have devised a positive key operated cut; oil valve where by the flow of the fuel from the tank or reservoir and therefore the use of the car which is provided with the invention is at all times under the control of the operator. This device includes a casing- 14; having ports at diametrically opposite points in line with the bore of the air tubing 10. This casing is provided with an internal seat for a rotary valve 15. This valve has a transverse opening 16 which is adapted to rcgis ter with the ports of the casing ls, so as to provide a communicating passage between the sections of the air tubing and permit of the free tiow of air from. the upper end of the tank or reservoir 7 into the upper end of the float tube The rotary valve member is further provided at diametrically opposite points with grooves 17 which are open to the atmosphere through one end of the casing 14-. The casing 14 is provided with an extension forming a housing for the gear 18 which meshes with a larger gear l fixed upon one end of the stem of the valve member l5. The wall of the casing extension is provided Willi a key slot 20 to rcceivc a key which is adapted for engagement with the gear 18 to rotate the same.

When it is desired to release the aiufrom the tank 7 and the lloat tube 5 so that the tank may be replenished with fuel, the key is inserted into the casing l-l and the gear 18 is rotated, thereby transmitting rota tion to the valve member 15, and dis posing the transverse opening lb thereof out of alincmcnt with the sections of the air tubing 10, and moving the grooves '17 ot id valve mr-mbcr into r gistration therewith. Thus, when the lirpiid l'ucl is poured into the tank or reservoir 7, the air may freely escape from the tube 10 and the grooves 1.7 which are in communicalion therewith, to the atmosphere. The l ucl supply may al o bc absolutcly locked so that it cannot be used by an unauthorized party by simply turning th. valvo'm mbcr 1:) until the ends ol" the passage or opening ll; are out of alimuncnl with the bore of the tubing 10, the grooves 1.7 being also out of communication therewith. lhus conununh cation between the lloat tube and the tank may he closed when the machine is on a level grade, and if the machine is used without the authorization of the owner, the locking device may be actuated to again establish mnn'iunicatiou belwccn the tube and the reservoir so that the liquids therein will immediately fall to their proper lcvcl.

in fig. of the drawing, l have shown a slightly modilicd form of the locking dc vice which is designed for use in connection. with gravity feed tanks or rcscrvoirs. The valve member 15 is actuated in the manner above described, but unlike the prel'crrcd form of said locking device, this valve memhcr is not provided with a transverse pas sage or opening The valve member 15 is, however, provided in its i icriphcry with a longitudinal groove or channcl -21. and. at diametrically opposite point provided with a second longitudinal groove or channel 21 which, however, is of appreciably greater width than the groove '31. Thus by turning the valve member 13, communication bctwccn the Iloat tube and the tank or rrscrvoir may be ut oil" while at the same limc the air space in the upper cud of the llcat tube 3 open to the atmosphere through the medium or"? the groove or chairm-l -ll. thus pern'ii tiug ot' the tree movement of the lloat member in said tube, whcn the car-ascends or descends an incline. As soon as the operator again turns the valve 15 to its former position, when the machine reaches the level grade, the litpiid in the tube 5 will descend to the same level as that in the tank or reservoir T.

In. Fig. 5 of the drawing. l have shown a. slightly modilied Form of the gravity brake (llVil'C wherein, in lieu of the (puck-silver body 13, l employ a rotary valve member .52 which is arraugial in the air tubing" ll) said valve member having a transvcrsc opening or passage 33 normally in colnmuuicatiou with the bore of the tube. A rod ll is lived at its upper cud to the valve member 22 and is pn'ovidcd on its lower cmlwitli a suitable weight 37 The casing ol' the valve member 22 is pra'ividcd with a slot indicated at 26 so that the rod 2i may move freely thcrcin. It will b! apparcnt that when the machine asccnds or dcsrcnds a grade, the valve incinbc 22 will be rotated so as to disalinel he opening or passage i223 thereof with the bore ol the tube 10.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and manner olf operation oi my invention will be clearly and fully understood.

The device ellcctually prevents the How of the liquid fuel from the supply tank or rcscrvoir to the lloal; tubc when the machine ascends or descends an incline so that the' level of" the fluid in the float tube will not change and the indicating mechanism will not be actual'ei'l to wrongly indicate the The device may be constructed at nominal cost and is applicable to motor vehicles,

' boats, or other vehicles now in common use without necessitating any alteration in their construction whatsoever.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is I 1. The combination with a fuel supply tank and a gage tube, of an air line pipe connecting the upper ends of said tank and tube, means arranged in said air line pipe and operable by gravity upon change of relative elevation of tank and tube to close communication through said pipe between the tank and tube, and a pipe connecting the lower ends of saidtank and tube.

2. The combination with a fuel supply tank and a float tube, of an air line ipe 1 connecting said tank and float tube at tieir upper ends, a transparent tube section arranged in said air lin'e pipe, and a gravity movable body arranged in said transparent tube and normally admitting of the free passage of air thcrethrough between the tank and the float tube, said body being movable into either end of the transparent tube upon change of relative elevation of tank and tube to cut on communication throu 'h the air line pipe between the tank and doat tube, and a pipe connecting the lower ends of said tank and float tube.

3. The combination with a fuel supply tank and gage float tube for vehicles, of an air line pipe connecting the upper ends of said tank and tube, nieansinterposed in said air line pipe to automatically cut off communication between the tank and float tube upon change of relative elevation of tank and tube, and a pipe connecting the lower ends of said tank and float tube.

4. The combination with a fuel supply tank'aud gage float tube for vehicles, of an air line pipe connecting the upper ends of said tank and tube, means interposed in said air line pipe to automatically'c ut ofi communication between the tank and float tube upon change of relative elevation of tank and tube, a manually operable locking deiv1ce arranged in the air line pipe for positively closin communication between the upper ends oi the tank and float tube, and a pipe connecting the lower ends of said tank and float tube.

5. The combination with a fuel supply tank and gage float tube for vehicles, of an air line pipe connecting the upper ends of said tank and tube, means interposed in said airline pipe to automatically cut olf communication between the tank and gage float tube upon change of relative elevation of tank and tube, a manually operable rotary valve member arranged in the air line pipe and provided with a passage to establish communication between the upperend of the gage float tube and the atmosphere, and a pipe connecting the lower end of said tank and gage float tube.

6. The combination with a fuel supply tank and gage float tube for vehicles, of an air line pipe connecting the upper ends of said tank and tube, means interposed in said air line pipe to automatically cut oft com; munication between the tank and the gage float tube upon change ofrelative' elevationof tank and tube, a manually operable rotary valve member arranged in the air line ipe and provided with a transverse opening through which communication is established between the upper ends of the tank and tube, said valve member being also provided with additional passages for establishing communication between the tank and gage float tube and the atmosphere, and a pipe connecting the lower on s of said tank and gage float tube.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER o. RITZ-WOLLER.

Witnesses:

R. J. BARRY, R. C. LITTLE. 

